3D stereophotogrammetric analysis of lip and nasal symmetry after primary cheiloseptoplasty in complete unilateral cleft lip repair

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate symmetry of the lip and nose in patients with CUCLP after primary cheiloseptoplasty (Afroze technique), in comparison to non-cleft controls. Methodology: In this prospective study, forty-four patients with operated non-syndromic CUCLP were included. The control group consisted of 44 volunteers without cleft defects of approximately the same age and sex. Primary septoplasty was performed in conjunction with the cleft hp (CL) repair using the Afroze incision. 3D facial images were acquired using 3D stereophotogrammetry. After a 3D cephalometric analysis of the lip and nose was performed in both groups, linear and volumetric data were acquired. Lip and nose symmetry were calculated and compared using Student's t-tests as well as the Chi square test. Results: For all measurements, the control group was up to 36% closer to perfect symmetry compared to the CUCLP group after primary surgery. This difference was statistically significant. Conclusions: After primary cheiloseptoplasty according to the Afroze technique in patients with CUCLP, asymmetry in the nose and lip area still exists as compared to non-cleft controls. Although non-cleft individuals also show some degree of asymmetry, the results of this study stress the difficulty in obtaining near normal symmetrical relations.